Significance of body mass index in the classification of pcos: A comparative study in Northeast India

Aim: To compare the clinical and biochemical characteristics of obese and lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To confirm the significance of body mass index (BMI) in classifying PCOS. Materials and methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study done at Assam Medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, in 1 year. Women who attended the hospital diagnosed to have PCOS based on Rotterdam’s criteria were divided into lean and obese with BMI cut-off of 23. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical characteristics of both were compared. Body fat percentage was calculated using Harpenden skinfold calipers, and based on it, the lean group was found to have a normal weight, and obese subgroup with body fat percentage more than the cut-off. Result: There was a significant difference in age, hirsutism score, and family history of diabetes and PCOS between the groups. The systolic blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and serum low-density lipoprotein (S.LDL) were statistically higher in the obese group. The normal weight obese group had features of the lean group, except for hyperandrogenism. Conclusion: The lean and obese PCOS are two discrete groups. Obese patients have a more androgenic and atherogenic lipid profile, but both groups should be screened. Body mass index is the easily available method, but it has a chance of missing out on the normal weight obese PCOS. Clinical significance: Follow-up is needed in both the groups, and the normal weight obese group behaves as the lean PCOS group; hence, BMI can be continued to be used as the differentiating factor.